Prep Softball Roundup: Elma comeback spoiled in loss to Shelton

Published 1:30 am Friday, April 3, 2026

Elma lost a heartbreaker while Montesano continues to roll as we review Thursday’s Twin Harbors prep softball games.

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PREP SOFTBALL

Shelton 7, Elma 5

Elma saw a potential comeback victory spoiled in a 7-5 loss to Shelton on Thursday at the Elma Ballfields.

The Eagles (6-1 overall) lost for the first time this season after rallying to take the lead late in the game, only to have the Highclimbers (4-3) win the game in their final at-bat.

Elma standout junior pitcher Ashlynn Weld ran into trouble early in the first after a single and a hit batter brought Shelton’s Hailey Schuffenhauer to the plate.

The Highlanders’ shortstop crushed a Weld 2-2 pitch over the center-field fence to make it a 3-0 game in the top of the first.

But Weld would settle in to hold Shelton scoreless over the next three frames, giving the Eagles’ offense a chance to climb back into the game.

The Highclimbers would take a 4-0 lead when Cassandra Tyler led off the fourth with a bunt and reach on a throwing error. As Tyler was advancing to second on the play, a second Elma throwing error allowed Tyler to come all the way around to score Shelton’s fourth run of the game.

The Eagles offense, which had been held scoreless through four innings by Highlanders starting pitcher Kaylee Rix, got on the scoreboard with an RBI sacrifice fly by Aubree Simmons and pulled to within a run when power-hitting left fielder Sophie Jones belted a two-run home run over the left-field fence with two outs.

In the sixth, Elma took the lead when star catcher Raelynn Weld hit a fly ball to left-center field that was dropped, allowing third baseman Lysee Bednarik to score the tying run of the game.

Making matters worse for Shelton, a relay throw on the play was mishandled by the Highclimbers defense, allowing Raelynn Weld to reach third and make a mad dash home as the ball spun into foul territory near third base.

The throw home hit Weld in the back as she scored the go-ahead run to put Elma up 5-4.

But the Elma fervor was short-lived as a key Eagles defensive error allowed leadoff batter Schuffenhauer to reach second base.

“I think Raelynn is just a really smart base runner,” Elma head coach Ashley Stancil said of the play. “In that situation, you rely on your girls that have been playing this game for a long time and are really smart ballplayers and really smart base runners.”

After advancing to third on a sac bunt, Schuffenhauer came in to score the tying run on a single by Emi McFarland.

Two straight Shelton RBI singles followed, chasing Ashlynn Weld from the circle as the Highclimbers took a 7-5 lead into the bottom of the seventh.

Shelton reliever Jonni Gouley retired the side 1-2-3 to hand Elma its first loss of the season.

“It is appropriate to lose a game, especially in the beginning of April because without it, you don’t learn all the things you need to work on,” Stancil said. “It’s not all sunshine and rainbows. It will be really interesting to see how they bounce back.”

Weld took the loss, allowing seven runs (three earned) on 10 hits and three walks with six strikeouts in 6 2-3 innings pitched.

Raelynn Weld led the Eagles offense with two hits – a triple and a double – with two runs scored.

Elma plays at Black Hills High School at 4:30 p.m. on Friday.

Shelton 300 010 3 – 7 10 1

Elma 000 032 0 – 5 7 4

WP: Gouley (2 IP, 2R, 0ER, 2H, 2K). LP: A.Weld (6.2 IP, 7R, 3ER, 10H, 3BB, 6K).

Leading hitters: Shelton – Schuffenhauer (2-4, HR, 2R, 3RBI); Fauula (1-5, R); Tyler (1-3, 2R); L. Rowland (1-3, SB); McFarland (1-4, R, RBI); R. Rowland (1-4); Lee (1-2, R, RBI); Rix (1-3, RBI); Gouley (1-2). Elma – R. Weld (2-4, 3B, 2B, 2R); Jones (1-4, HR, R, 2RBI); A. Weld (1-4, 2B); Simmons (1-2, RBI, SF); Monroe (1-2); Bednarik (1-2, R); Trudell (1-2, R, BB).

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Montesano 16, Rochester 0

For the second time this week, Montesano demolished Rochester 16-0 on Thursday in Rochester.

The Bulldogs (7-0, 5-0 1A Evergreen) had their way with the Warriors (1-7, 0-3), hammering Rochester pitching for 15 hits – five for extra bases – and took control of the game with seven runs in the top of the second inning, highlighted by a two-run triple from third baseman Lex Stanfield and a solo home run from shortstop Jaelyn Butterfield.

Monte added four more runs in the third on RBI singles from outfielder Grace Gooding and Stanfield followed by a run-scoring ground out off the bat of Lainey Robinson to put Monte up 12-0.

A Addi Williamsen RBI triple highlighted Monte’s three-run fourth inning and the Bulldogs put the finishing touches on the mercy-rule victory when Ashlyn Lytle scored on an error in the fifth.

Sophomore standout pitcher Violet Prince dazzled on in the circle for Monte, tossing a five-inning no-hitter with four walks while striking out 15.

Monte travels east to play West Valley at 1 p.m. on Friday in Yakima.

Montesano 174 31 – 16 15 0

Rochester 000 00 – 0 0 2

WP: Prince (5 IP, 0R, 0H, 4BB, 15K). LP: Dempsy (4 IP, 15R, 14ER, 15H, 2BB).

Leading hitters: Montesano – Stanfield (4-4, 3B, 3R, 3RBI); Williamsen (3-3, 3B, 3RBI); Butterfield (2-2, HR, 2B, 2R, 2RBI, SB); Galvin (2-3, 2B, R, 2RBI, SB); Gooding (2-4, 2R); Prince (1-4); Fairbairn (1-3, R, 2RBI, SB); Wintrip (0-2, R, SB).

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Adna 17, Raymond-South Bend 6

Raymond-South Bend lost in a 17-6 shootout with Adna on Thursday in Adna.

The Ravens (4-2) got to the Pirates (4-1) for a pair of runs on star center fielder Emma Glazier’s two-run home run in the top of the first inning.

But the Ravens’ pitching staff struggled to get out against three-time defending state-champion Adna, trailing 8-2 after two innings.

RSB got back in the game with four in the third on a Glazier two-run double, an RBI single from Liz Lewis and a two-run home run from standout catcher Ava Pine to make it an 8-6 ballgame.

But there was no stopping Adna on this day as the Pirates offense scored nine runs combined in the third and fourth innings – highlighted by former Montesano Bulldog Tieander Olson’s three-run home run – to earn a 17-6 mercy-rule victory.

Glazier led RSB with three hits, two runs scored and three RBI.

Madi San took the loss in the circle for RSB, allowing nine runs on eight hits and three walks with three strikeouts in 2 2-3 innings of relief.

Macey Enlow started for RSB, allowing eight runs (three earned) on seven hits and a walk in 1 1-3 innings pitched.

Two RSB errors led to five unearned runs for the Pirates.

The Ravens host Elma at 4 p.m. on Thursday in South Bend.

RSB 204 00 – 6 8 2

Adna 535 4x – 17 15 3

WP: Baggenstos (3 IP, 6R, 6ER, 5H, BB, K). LP: San (2.2 IP, 9R, 9ER, 8H, 3BB, 3K).

Leading hitters: RSB – Glazier (3-3, HR, 2B, 2R, 3RBI); Enlow (1-3, 2B); Houk (1-3, R, SB); Lewis (1-2, R, RBI); Pine (1-3, R, 2RBI); Harriman (1-3). Adna – Olson (4-4, HR, 2 2B, 4R, 5RBI); Myers (2-4, 2 2B, 2R, 3RBI); Shannon (2-3, R, 3RBI); Carroll (2-3, 2R); Strodemier (2-3, R, RBI): Huber (1-2, 2B, RBI); Gerard (1-4, 2R, RBI); McCloskey (1-1, 2R, RBI).